Loose leaf binder



Aug. 10, 1937. KRAG 2,089,211

' LOOSE LEAF BINDER .Filed May 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 flvvi/vrafi:5/714 1. hray a W y my.

g-10 3 E.L.KRAG 7 2,089,211

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed May 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fNVfNi'Of? fn'A Zffrag Patented Aug. 10, 1937 PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Erik L.Krag, Chicago, Ill., assignor of one-tenth to E. J. Andrews, Chicago,Ill.

ApplicationMay 29, 1933, Serial No. 673,379

2 Claims.

, This invention relates toloose-leaf binders, and

has for its object providing various improvements inthe ordinary bindersin use, particularly with reference to the means for removing andinserting leaves, and for shifting them from one position on the binderto another.

Of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a fractional plan view of abinder which embodies someof the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is afront end view of the binder; Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are transverse sectionalviews of the binder along 1 the respective lines 3-3, 44 and 5-5 of Fig.1;

Fig. 6 is a fractional plan view of a modified form of binder; Fig. 7 isa fractional side view of the same; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a furthermodification; and Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views along therespective lines 9- 9 and I0-lll of Fig. 8.

It is customary with loose-leaf binders to provide means for shiftingthe sets of paper holding prongs towards and away from each othertransversely of the binder. In such cases, the prong holding means arealso shifted bodily with the prongs. In this case, however, I prefer totilt or rotate the sets of prongs away from each other when the leavesare to be changed. I One or both sets may be made tiltable, as may bedesired. In Figs. 1 to 5, I show the left set only tiltable. By usingupwardly projecting and inwardly arched prongs, with their lower endsfixed to a rotatable holding strip, the upper ends maybe tiltedoutwardlysuificient to allow the leaves to be shifted .as desired. Y

For this purpose, I provides. base plate H] extending the full length ofthe binder. Preferably, onthe right-hand edge, a support strip I l isfixed for holding the immovable set of prongs l2. On the other edgeofthe plate, I provide a strip I3 for the other set of prongs M. Thisstrip I3 is rotatably mounted, preferably on a rod l5, so that the upperends of the prongs may beitilted away from the prongs I2, asin Fig. 4.Whenever itis desired to insert or remove leaves from either set ofprongs, it is necessary only to tilt or rotate the prongs l4 outwardlyand proceed 45 in the ordinary manner.

To prevent inadvertent opening of the prongs, I provide means forlocking them in their closed positions. Preferably these means comprisea strip l6 non-rotatably associated with the prong 50 strip l3, andhaving an inwardly projecting flange ll. Pivotally mounted on the plateHI is an arm I8 adapted to be rotated so that the free end will projectoutwardly over the flange I1, holding it in the closed position. Tooperate the arm [8, 55 I provide a longitudinal bar l9 slidably mountedon the plate l0 and with one end extending to the front end of thebinder. A handle 20 is'provided for operating this bar. The arm I8 isalso pivoted to the bar H), by means of a slot 2!, and by operating thebar the free end of the arm 5 may be passed onto or off from the flangell.

As many locking means it? as may be desired may be applied, operatingsimultaneously by means of the bar [9. And suitable guide means and stopmeans may be provided for the bar. Also these various means may beprovided for binders which merely open the prongs or forthose which alsoprovide for shifting the sets of prongs longitudinally with reference toeach other. a

In this instance, I provide for shifting bodily. 15 the tiltable set ofprongs longitudinally of the binder. These means comprise the strip I3and the rod l5. The strip is both rotatably and slidably mounted on therod by means of a strip 22. The strips l3, l6 and 22 are rigidly con- 20nected in any suitable manner, such as by means of rivets 23. A handle24 is formed on the front end of these strips for operating the prongseither tiltably or longitudinally.

I also provide means for registering the mov- 25 able prongswithreference to the others. In this case, these means comprise a strip25 having notches 26 in one corner. A flange 2? projects d-ownwardlyfromthe handle 2d and passes into one of the notches as the prongs areclosed in the 30 proper relative positions. As many notches may beprovided as is desired, and they are suitably spaced for positioning themovable prongs properly. 7

To assist in positioning the leaves to be inserted and in shifting themon the prongs, I provide an arched retaining plate 28; The lower edgesof the plate are preferably fixed to the base plate to; and, thearchedplate wallsare spaced from the closed prongs properly to support theedges of the leaves when they are being inserted or shifted on theprongs. p

Also to assist in shifting the leaves upwardly towards the bowedportions of the prongs when the binder covers 3| are being closed, Iprovide automatic boosters 30. When the binder is open, as in Fig. 5,the loose leaves lie down on the binder covers 3|, and they must bepushed upwardly onto the bowed portions of the prongs, in order to closethe binder covers. This is accomplished partly by the boosters. Theseboosters comprise plates 34 which are hinged to the inner edges of therespective strips H and i3, or 31 and 39 of Fig. 5. To the outer edge ofeach plate 34 is hinged a second plate 32, and a boosters, I prefer toform in the covers 3| depres--,. sions 35, into which the rollers 33pass as the" binder covers are closing. The rollers are thus held in thepositions best adapted for thepurpose of suitably operating theboosters.

the rollers in the depressions when the binder is closed. Fingers 32aprevent the plates 32 from turning inwardly beyond the depressions a 1Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of the mean for positioning the prongsproperly for closing the binder. These means comprise the stripcorresponding to the strip 25 of Fig. 4. Notches 4| are formed in theinner corner of the strip and these are adapted to-receive flanges 42projecting downwardly from the strips 39, or corresponding strips. Fig.6 illustrates the strip 40 and the 1 notches 4-l therein.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate modified means for holding the binder in itslocked position. These means comprise a plate fixed to the base platel0, and with a portion thereof spaced from the a base plate.

A hook [Bis-fixed to an operating bar" 41-. The bar H isslidably mountedwith reference to-the-prong-holding bar 48. When the 1 binder'is closed,the hook is forced under the plate 45- by the spring 45a holding thebinder closed. As the bar 4! is pushed inwardly, the hook is releasedand thebinder may be opened; A spring 44; on the rod I5with-one endpassing underthe prong plate 39 andthe other end over the'base plate I0,tends at all'times to tilt the prong plate" to the open position. A bar48 is providedfor slidingthe prongs longitudinally in an ordinarymanner;

Fig. 8 illustrates meansfor' forcing the prongs apart. In this case;both setsof prongs are tiltable. When it'is desiredt'o open the prongs,the operating bar 50' is' forced outwardly, thus :operating the arms 5|.Each of these arms' is pivoted at one'end to the base plate 52'by apivot 53, and" to the central portion of the bar 50 by a pivot 54fixedito the bar 50 playing in a slot 55'. The other end of eacharmhasacam portion 56. The'prong' plate 43' of the prongs 51 isrotatably associated with the rod 58,.and' also rotatably mounted on therod'is a plate 59'. As the arm 5| is operated, the camend passesunder'the inner edge of theplate 59; and the cam forces the edge of theplate 59 upwardly and rotates the prong support" and,

And springs 36 are adapted to press the plates 34 downward when thebinder is open and to hold:

tral portion of the shifter sheet is forced upwardly; to the positionindicated by the dotted lines 64. A stiffening strip is fixed to theouter edge of the sheet, to prevent bending of the edge.

' Inthese figures are shown also the supports IM and H19 hereinafterdescribed.

.Figs. 9,10 show a manually operable plate I00 for supporting the leavesto be shifted. This plate preferably extends the full length of theb'inder,. and it' :ishingedand slidably mounted on supports- I'OLbymeans'ofa rod NHL The sup-- ports lllltare fixed with reference to thetiltable prongs- 43', one oneach end-.- The platemay' be easily tiltedupwardly to the operative" position: by means of a handle I03,- and'downwardly onto asupport I 04 to its inoperative position.

In this and similar binders, I provide a leaf support-and guide I 09.The fingers I'M of theupper 'edgeof this guide are positioned properlyto support the leaves as they are to be passedonto the prongs I08; theentire guide is curved to be parallel with the curve of the prongs, andthe guide surfaceis spaced so-as tosupport'the' inner edgesoftheleavesand; thus; prevent sagging or other displacement of theleaves.The fingers I01 pass-through the slots lll5 'when'the binder is open andthe plate I00 is-rotated-i I claim asmyinvention: I

1". In a loose-leaf binder, a frame, twosets of co-operating prongs, oneset being mounted for transverse movement on the frame, said framehaving a cover board' hinged thereto, and means: for forcing the looseleaves on oneof the sets of prongs upwardly and away from the adjacentcover -board, as the board is turned upwardly to" itsclosed position,said means comprising a platepivoted between the two'sets of prongs, andex tending between and outsideof the prongs to be affected, and a'second platepiv'otedfito the first mentioned plate'outside ofthe-latterprongs:-

2. In a loose-leaf binder, a base p1ate,,a: rod"

